One would be stupid to doubt Hugh Jackman’s acting skills. Over the course of his three-decade-long career, he has proved his mettle time and again. But there’s one role he will always be remembered for – Wolverine. The Australian actor has portrayed the man with the Adamantium claws in 9 movies for a period of almost 2 decades, with his run coming to an end with Logan in 2017. The movie has its fair share of goodbyes. Making things more emotional was the fact that it was one of the finest in the X-Men franchise. And some of the credit for its success must be given to controversial Hollywood figure Mickey Rourke.
Logan was the perfect send-off for Hugh Jackman
Logan was a class apart from the other entrants in the X-Men franchise. The fact that it was the only Superhero movie after The Dark Knight to bag an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay is a testament to this fact.
Director James Mangold deserves plaudits for the skill with which he brought his vision to the screen. He captured the essence of Logan’s character, a man who was always at odds with society, and who never really fit in anywhere until it was too late. It was the perfect farewell for The Prestige star. He is now returning to play the character and making his debut in the MCU with Deadpool 3.
Hugh Jackman was influenced by a host of stars
One thing that stands out about Logan is how it has been heavily influenced by a host of movies. Parallels can be drawn between the relationships of Logan and Laura and the dynamic between Shane and Joey in the 1953 Western movie, Shane. The likes of John Wayne, Johnny Cash, and Clint Eastwood also heavily influenced Hugh Jackman.
There was another major influence – Mickey Rourke’s The Wrestler. For Jackman, both the movies seemed to be in the same vein, telling the tale of a man who “still has his desires and ambitions but the weight of everyday life and his past seem to be getting the better of him.”
What The Greatest Showman star failed to appreciate were the parallels between Logan and Rourke.
Mickey Rourke’s tale
Mickey Rourke has one of the saddest stories in Hollywood. Or does he? The Iron Man 2 star was primed for greatness in the 90s. But it all went haywire. Rourke could not grow accustomed to the fame. Somewhere along the sparkling dazzle, he lost his love for the profession. Lashing out at the paparazzi and the Industry became a routine for The Commando star. He never really fit in.
The question is did he even want to? The Wild Orchid star wanted to act. Yet he always played by his own rules, did what he felt like, and never conformed to the standards others had set. James Mangold once said,
“He doesn’t want the celebrity or the credit or the adoration. There’s a ton of shame on his back.”
Who was he referring to – Logan or Mickey Rourke? The line is thin indeed.
Source: USA Today
